The valuation criterion for normal basis generators

If $L/K$ is a finite Galois extension of local fields, we say that the valuation criterion $VC(L/K)$ holds if there is an integer $d$ such that every element $x \in L$ with valuation $d$ generates a normal basis for $L/K$. Answering a question of Byott and Elder, we first prove that $VC(L/K)$ holds if and only if the tamely ramified part of the extension $L/K$ is trivial and every non-zero $K[G]$-submodule of $L$ contains a unit. Moreover, the integer $d$ can take one value modulo $[L:K]$ only, namely $-d_{L/K}-1$, where $d_{L/K}$ is the valuation of the different of $L/K$. When $K$ has positive characteristic, we thus recover a recent result of Elder and Thomas, proving that $VC(L/K)$ is valid for all extensions $L/K$ in this context. When \char{\;K}=0, we identify all abelian extensions $L/K$ for which $VC(L/K)$ is true, using algebraic arguments. These extensions are determined by the behaviour of their cyclic Kummer subextensions

Pointed Hopf actions on fields, I

Actions of semisimple Hopf algebras H over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero on commutative domains were classified recently by the authors. The answer turns out to be very simple- if the action is inner faithful, then H has to be a group algebra. The present article contributes to the non-semisimple case, which is much more complicated. Namely, we study actions of finite dimensional (not necessarily semisimple) Hopf algebras on commutative domains, particularly when H is pointed of finite Cartan type. The work begins by reducing to the case where H acts inner faithfully on a field; such a Hopf algebra is referred to as Galois-theoretical. We present examples of such Hopf algebras, which include the Taft algebras, u_q(sl_2), and some Drinfeld twists of other small quantum groups. We also give many examples of finite dimensional Hopf algebras which are not Galois-theoretical. Classification results on finite dimensional pointed Galois-theoretical Hopf algebras of finite Cartan type will be provided in the sequel, Part II, of this study.Comment: v4: This version is unchanged from v3. This article has appeared in Transformation Groups. The TG reference numbers versus the arxiv reference numbers are available in the appendix (Section 5) of this versio

Stable birational invariants with Galois descent and differential forms

a

The fundamental group of a Hopf linear category

We define the fundamental group of a Hopf algebra over a field. For this purpose we first consider gradings of Hopf algebras and Galois coverings. The latter are given by linear categories with new additional structure which we call Hopf linear categories over a finite group. We compare this invariant to the fundamental group of the underlying linear category, and we compute those groups for families of examples.Comment: Computations of the fundamental group of some Hopf algebras are added. The relation with the fundamental group of the underlying associative structure is now considered. We also analyse the situation when universal covers and/or gradings exist. Dedicated to Eduardo N. Marcos for his 60th birthday. 24 page